A Newport Christmas Wedding (4 page)

They didn't know all that much about Joe except that he sang a mean karaoke, something Meri missed now that she was going home every weekend.

“So who put up the equal opportunity tree?” Meri indicated the miniature fir tree that sat next to the doughnut box. It was decorated with little plastic angels and was topped by a big cardboard Star of David that was listing to the side.

“We were discussing whether to do a manger and a menorah when Doug came in and nixed the idea of an open flame.”

“Smart move.” Meri adjusted the star.

Carlyn nodded. “And Krosky here said electric lights didn't go with the ambience.”

Meri took her coffee over to the table and sat down. “Lord, I'm glad to be back.”

Carlyn gave her a look. “Really? You'd rather be cleaning off old paint than spending hours alone with the TDH?”

Carlyn's code for tall, dark, and handsome.

“He's got a deadline, I have work. And there's not a moment's quiet around there.” Meri smiled. “Well, a few. But not nearly enough.”

“The voice of true love.” Carlyn bit into a double chocolate doughnut and chewed. “So how did the fitting go?”

“Done at last. And it looks gorgeous.”

Joe jumped up. “That does it for me. If you two are going to talk about weddings and go all squealy, I'm getting back to work.” He bounced off down the hall.

Carlyn shook her head. “Crazy man. But he works hard for the money. Thank heavens he works for free.”

“Did Doug come in today? Did he say when Hendricks is sending over someone to finish plastering the missing bits of ceiling? If we're closing up shop until after New Year's, I don't want to risk any more designs falling off and breaking.”

“They're coming tomorrow afternoon.”

“Good. What else?”

“The plaster casters left a message on Friday. The molds for the reliefs came out perfectly and they're ready to cast on a word from Doug.”

“Great. Can we pay them?”

“Yep. That's where Doug is now, turning in projected expenses for the next quarter. There shouldn't be a problem.” Carlyn looked up to the kitchen ceiling, which hadn't been cleaned or restored and still held the soot and grease of decade of cooks, good and bad.

“From my lips to the board of director's ears.” She popped the last bit of doughnut into her mouth, licked her lips. “I've hardly had time to sit down for a meal for weeks. But now that the budget proposal is in, I'm going to enjoy what's left of the year.”

Meri stood. “Just make sure you can still fit in your bridesmaid's dress.”

“Not to worry. Well, back to work. I'll walk you down.”

Carlyn and Meri walked out arm in arm.

“Goin' to the chapel . . .” Carlyn crooned.

They did a hip bump.

Krosky's “ba-­bah-­bump” echoed from somewhere down the hall.

“Gotta love him,” Carlyn said. “See you for lunch? Kitchen at twelve-­thirty. I'll send out for Chinese.”

“I love Chinese,” echoed from somewhere inside the building.

“The bouncing, singing, Chinese food-­loving microbiologist,” Carlyn said, and she and Meri bounced Krosky-­style down to Carlyn's office, where Meri dropped her off with some fifties' hand jive

“And don't forget we're meeting Geordie Holt tomorrow night after work to discuss wedding pictures.”

“I won't,” Meri said, and continued on to the equipment room.

 

Chapter 4

N
ORA COULDN'T CONCE
NTRATE
in school that day. She felt like a wedge was being driven in her heart. And it hurt.

She got up from her bed where she'd thrown herself the minute she got home from school. “You're being melodramatic,” she said at the mirror. Her unhappy self just stared back at her.

She felt sick. The idea that they didn't really want her kept growing and growing all day. Until she felt like she might explode.

She wished she could talk to Meri. She could tell her things she would have never been able to tell her mother. But she couldn't, not about this. She had been naive enough to think they could be a family. That Meri and her dad would want her to live with them.

They acted as if they did, but maybe when they were alone they were wondering how to get rid of her. Lucas said they wouldn't want her or him. He'd been looking it up because he must be worried, too. He'd found all sorts of statistics to prove it.

Nora didn't care about statistics, she never understood them anyway. But her mother had said the same thing. And even after she had filtered out all her mother's bitchiness and the anger, she still came up with the same thing: no newlywed ­couple wanted a teenager around.

Even the woman from the gift store had been surprised when she told her she'd be living with Meri and her dad.

So why hadn't any of them just said so? She was a big girl. She could take it . . . sort of. No she couldn't. And they knew it. That's why they hadn't said anything. Because they didn't want to hurt her feelings.

What was she going to do? And how was she going to make it through the next week without totally losing it? She should never have called Lucas, and she really should never have called her mother. She was probably gloating over the mess she had made and was already concocting ways to make her life miserable when she returned.

If she'd studied more and made better grades she could have gone to boarding school. Nora groaned. She didn't want to go to boarding school. She wanted to live her with dad and Meri. Her mother had been right all along. She was a selfish, ungrateful be-­otch.

T
HE GREAT TH
ING
about her work, Meri thought as she stepped out of the shower that night, was that you could take a long weekend and when you came back it had only changed in increments. Restoring a historic house was painstaking work. It had taken her nearly nine months to clean the paint layers from Gilbert House's foyer ceiling. Rush it, and you ran the risk of destroying a part of history.

Now she was in the process of exposing a triptych window that had been covered over with plaster board to divide a bedroom into two when the structure was turned into a boardinghouse. True to form, it also had several layers of paint—­though not nearly as many as her ceiling.

It promised to be as exciting, if considerably smaller, than her ceiling. Because it was
her
ceiling, just like it was Joe Krosky's parlor wallpaper. And Joe and Doug's Edwardian fireplace. Each project became part of you, and you got very proprietary.

Meri dried off, then wrapped a towel around her wet hair just as her cell phone rang. She checked caller ID and smiled.

“Hi, Dad.”

“Hi honey, back at work?” Technically, Dan Hollis was her stepfather; actually, technically he wasn't even that, but he was her dad.

“Yes, just for a ­couple of days. Doug's giving everybody two weeks off.”

“Because of the holidays or the budget?”

“Both. Though I expect he and Carlyn will be working. It is the end of the year. And they have to file reports. So the rest of us are at our leisure.”

“And how are the wedding plans going?”

“Whew. It takes over your whole life. I mean I'm excited and everything, though part of me will be glad when it's over so we can all go back to being normal.” She hesitated. “We will go back to normal, won't we?”

“You'll go back to better. Trust me. My life was transformed when I met you and your mother. It may sound hokey, but it's true. I'm only sad that she's not here. She always had a special place in her heart for Alden.”

“I know. I wish she was here, too. Have you heard from the boys?”

“Yep. And they're all ready for the big day. Will has even rented his tux. Matt is flying in on the Thursday before. I told him he better not wait until the last minute in case it snowed.”

How about Gabe and Penny and the baby?”

“They're driving, and Gran already said she would find someone to babysit during the ceremony.”

“I don't care if little Laura cries and carries on.”

“I know, but I think Penny would like to enjoy the ceremony quietly with her husband. She said to be sure to warn you that she's going to cry. She always cries at weddings, and besides, she's still hormonal. Though that information was more than I needed to now.”

Meri grinned into the phone. Her dad was such a guy. “I just hope I don't cry.”

“You? I hope I don't.” He laughed. It was contagious, as always, and she laughed with him.

They hung up a few minutes later and she'd barely put down the phone before it rang again. Alden. The men in her life, she was so blessed.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” he said.

There was a second of silence. Like they were readjusting their selves to the new “them.” It was exhilarating and scary. Soon she would add Corrigan to Calder-­Hollis.

Gran had told her she could drop the Calder if she wanted. She didn't want to. Her dad had laughed and said she could drop the Hollis because she'd never get all those names on any official form.

But Meri stood firm. She was going to be Merielle Calder-­Hollis-­Corrigan because she was all of them and she intended to remain all of what she was. She blew out air.

“Long day?”

“Slow day. But wait until you see this alcove. I can't believe they drywalled over it. Though I'm kind of glad they did, because it looks like it's going to be in much better shape than the ceiling.”

“That's good.”

“You sound tired. Tough assignment?”

“No. Actually, I think I've crossed the line into whimsy.”

“That should work for fairy tales.”

“I guess.”

“So what's wrong?”

“Nothing really. Nora's just . . . I don't know, not her usual outrageous, demanding, wonderfully funny self.”

“Maybe school and wedding is taking too much energy.”

“Maybe.”

“Did you talk to her?” Meri asked.

“I tried, but she said everything was fine and went to her room.”

“Well, it will be over soon and we can all relax.”

“You wish it were over?”

“Just all the preparation. All you have to do is get your tux cleaned and show up. It seems like we've had nonstop fittings and tastings and—­”

“You want to elope?”

Meri laughed. “No I do not. I'm just saying, maybe she's feeling the pressure.”

“Maybe, but I wished you'd talk to her when—­when you come home for the weekend.”

“Will do. We'll sneak out for some girl time.” Meri opened the refrigerator and looked inside.

“Was that the fridge? Haven't you eaten yet?”

“Yes it was, and no I haven't, but I will. First I just want to talk to you.”

“About something specific?”

“Not really, just wanted to hear the sound of your voice. And ask your opinion. Carlyn and I are meeting with Geordie Holt for dinner tomorrow. You remember her?”

“The photographer.”

“Right. I know she'll want to take pictures between the ceremony and the reception. They always do. But I also know you won't want to take the time, and she'll definitely want to take some outside shots, because she asked if we would be willing to freeze for a few seconds.”

“She couldn't wait until summer?”

“No, she wants shots with the breakers in the back. It would be dramatic.”

“I'll say.”

She could almost feel his shudder through the phone. “Hey, we owe a lot to those breakers.”

“We do. Okay, tell her it's fine as long as it doesn't take too long. Since we're only moving from one room to the other for the reception, I don't want the guests getting bored.”

“What a whopper. You'd love for them to eat and leave so we can all kick back and relax.”

“You're wrong, Meri. I want this to be the best, most memorable day of our lives.”

And so did she. She was just anxious to make the transition as smooth as possible. She'd also noticed the change in Nora and wasn't convinced everything was fine.

 

Chapter 5

“W
HAT
I
NEED
from you two today,” Doug said as he poured himself a cup of coffee the next morning at Gilbert House, “is a little housecleaning.”

Meri frowned at him. “What kind of housecleaning? What about my triptych?”

“The triptych will be here when we get back after the new year. The point now is to get back.”

Carlyn groaned. “Don't tell me they're threatening to pull funds again?”

“Not exactly. But it is the busiest season next to summer for the big houses. All those tourists coming to see the big houses decorated.”

He looked over his shoulder at the counter Christmas tree and Star of David that had rolled onto its side. “I've got a dozen poinsettia arriving around noon. And fifty feet of pine bough.”

“Why?” Meri asked.

“Because I have a contingent of ­people interested in Gilbert House coming in to take a look, and I want it to wow them. Well, as much as a partially renovated old boardinghouse can wow.”

“Piece of cake,” Carlyn said. “Right, Meri?”

“Right.”

“So just do a little picking up,” Doug said. “Give Krosky the vac and tell him to get up as much dust as he can in the parlor and foyer.”

“They're coming today?”

“Yes, so chop chop.”

“Talk about short notice,” Meri groused. “And I was just getting to something interesting on my alcove.”

“You're always finding fascinating things,” Doug said. “That's why I'd hire you for life if I had the ready cash, but it will wait.”

“And while we're housecleaning, what are you going to be doing?”

“Putting together a prospectus for next quarter for their reading pleasure.”

“Yippee, strike while the iron is hot,” Carlyn said, and jumped up.

Meri followed her example even though she had really been looking forward to getting two more days alone with her alcove. But sometimes finances were more important. “Okay we're on it. Carlyn, you spit, I'll polish.”

By mid-­afternoon the ground floor was in decent shape. Krosky had placed some high wattage lamps focused on some of the details of walls and ceiling and artfully concealed the bases and electrical cord with the poinsettias.

He stood back, hands in his overall pockets, bouncing on his toes.

“Heck, if I'd known you were so artistic,” Carlyn said, “I would have let you redecorate my apartment instead of doing one of those DIY online programs. It did not turn out like I wanted.”

“Next time,” Joe said.

“I like poinsettias,” Meri said.

“Me, too,” Carlyn said. “They are one of the few flowers that don't make me sneeze.”

Krosky stopped bouncing. “That's because they are not flowers. The red pigmented parts are called bracts, which are modified leaf structures. The actual flowers, the pistillates, are formed in the ciathia, those tiny little bulbs in the center, and are responsible for the reproduction.”

“Oh my, I love it when he starts talking all risqué.” Carlyn grinned and fanned her face with her hand.

“Well, it's true,” Krosky said good-­humoredly. “I like them, too.”

Doug came in to give them a final inspection. “Looking good, team. Why don't you call it an early day? Carlyn has your paycheck, Meri. Krosky doesn't get one.”

Krosky smiled and bounced.

Meri and Carlyn had often wondered if maybe he was independently wealthy, though he certainly didn't dress like it and he rode an old Harley to and from work, rain, shine, or snow. And yet he worked for free.

“I can wait until tomorrow,” Meri said.

“I'm closing up tonight. There's no reason for the extra day when there are only four of us on the job. The heat is too expensive. Besides, you have a wedding to get ready for.”

“Nothing's wrong, is it?” Meri asked.

“Nope. Not a thing.”

“Then I'll gladly take the extra day off. But that's two whole weeks without my triptych.”

“You can come visit it if you get tired of married life,” Doug said.

“She better not,” Carlyn said.

“But you'll come back to check on things, Doug. The humidity and the temperature.”

Carlyn gave her a look. “Have you ever known Doug not to check on things . . . compulsively?”

“No, of course not,” Meri said. “Doesn't mean I don't get to be a nervous Nellie. The ceiling is in a fragile position until it's repaired and gessoed.”

“I will take care of it,” Doug said. “
And
your triptych.” He shooed them out. “Now go, have a good time.”

“Talking about wedding pictures?” Meri asked incredulously.

Doug looked confused for a second, then said, “Why not?”

“Yeah, why not?” Krosky added, bouncing and grinning.

C
ARLYN PICKED UP
Meri at her apartment at ten after six. “Sorry I'm late. Had a last minute number-­crunching call from Doug.”

“That's okay, I'll call Geordie and tell her we'll be a few minutes late.”

“I already did. And there's a change in venue. She's was running late, too, on a shoot near here, so she said for us to meet her there.”

“Where's that?”

“Our karaoke bar.”

“Are we singing or planning wedding photos?”

“Planning, singing doesn't start until eight. But if we're still there . . .” Carlyn shrugged.

“Sounds like fun, but I thought about driving out to the farm tonight, since we're not working tomorrow.”

“That's cool. It was just an idea.”

“But nothing's stopping you and Geordie from staying. I can walk home. It's only a ­couple of blocks.”

“Let's just seen how it goes.”

They parked a half block from the bar. Probably the last free parking place in town until after the holidays, and Meri took it as a good omen. She was taking every little good thing as a sign, because truth to tell, she was a little nervous about getting married. Not that there was any question in her mind about wanting to spend her life with Alden and Nora and Lucas. There had just been so many changes in her life in the last year, it was hard to assimilate it all.

A gust of wind ran around the corner just as they opened the door to the club. They huddled inside. It was totally dark.

“What the heck?” Meri said.

A hiss of sound, a steady pulsating rhythm, filled the dark. Ahead of them lights popped on, revealing the karaoke stage. At least ten ­people were crowded together on the tiny platform.

“Meri's getting married,” they sang to the tune of “Going to the Chapel.”

“And we're gonna par-­ar-­ar-­ty.” Friends, interns, associates, Geordie. Gran and Nora stood around the microphones singing and smiling.

“It's a bridal shower and we can't wait to get nau-­au-­au-­ghty.”

“Especially Gran!” yelled Geordie.

Everyone laughed.

Meri started laughing. “I can't believe you guys.”

The rest of the lights came on. Two big tables were set with plates and decorations. In the middle of each was a centerpiece made of paper that accordioned open to make a 3-­D LP and microphone. A buffet table sat against the wall, and additional chairs were arranged in a circle. Next to it another table was piled with gifts.

Ray, the manager, stood by the light switch. From the DJ booth, Joe Krosky, his hair reflecting the light in a red halo around his head, waved as he bounced to the music.

“He begged. So I let him come, but put him to work,” Carlyn yelled over the music.

The adapted song finished and everyone piled off the stage, to surround her.

“Were you surprised?” Nora asked.

“Totally. Totally. How did you and Gran get here?”

“Dad drove us. He's picking us up at the end.”

“He didn't drive back home, did he?”

“No, he's having dinner with some friends in town.”

Ray passed by grinning. “Gotta go put out my private party sign. Don't want anybody crashing the fun.”

“He closed the whole bar?”

“Until ten o'clock,” Carlyn said. “He likes us, and it's a slow night anyway. So let's eat, sing, and be merry.” She pulled Meri toward the buffet table, where Geordie Holt was pouring champagne into plastic champagne flutes.

She handed one to Gran and then to Meri. “Sorry Nora, you have to have soda. We don't want Ray to get his license revoked.”

When everyone had their glasses, Carlyn raised hers. “To Meri, my best friend in the whole world, and to Alden, who better make her the happiest friend in the whole world.” Everyone laughed and sipped, then broke into talking.

Music started up again from the DJ booth, Geordie and Trish Stevens, Meri and Carlyn's karaoke partners, dragged them onto the stage.

Everyone took seats around the tables.

The bass was pounding the floorboards. It felt great to be back up here with her friends. She'd missed this, Meri realized. She'd been too busy with work, and wedding plans, and spending time with Gran and Nora and Alden, to hang out with her Newport friends.

Carlyn took the mic and Meri took her place between Geordie and Trish. “We still have to talk about photos,” Geordie yelled over the music.

Meri nodded and they began, “I Only Want to be With You,” with Krosky singing the trumpet parts from the DJ's booth.

Everyone took a turn, including Gran and Nora, who really had a good voice, and enjoyed singing, unlike her father who had a decent voice but rarely sang. Meri smiled. A few times, lately, she'd caught him humming to himself.

They ate and drank, sang and laughed, until they'd made it through a repertory of wedding and love songs from Motown to Broadway to rock 'n' roll. Finally, Carlyn motioned to Joe to wrap it up.

While the music died down, Carlyn rounded them all into the circle of chairs. “Presents,” she announced, and handed Meri a big rectangular box wrapped in floral paper and tied with a giant yellow bow. Then she sat in the chair next to Meri and pulled out her phone.

Meri gave her a look. “You're going to text?”

“Nope. A list for your thank-­you notes,” she said.

Meri nodded. Of course, Carlyn was ever-­efficient, and she
was
the maid of honor. Actually, she had two, since she couldn't decide between Carlyn and Nora. Carlyn figured it out for her. “Hot Babe Bridesmaid and Hot Babe in Training Bridesmaid.” They'd laughed and agreed and became HBB and HBTB.

Meri opened the card. It was from Trish. She read it out loud.

“Aw,”
everyone exclaimed, and she passed it around the group.

As for the gift itself, she began meticulously separating the tape on the wrapping paper.

“Come on, Meri. At this rate, the last present will need renovating before we even see what it is.”

Carlyn handed Meri a penknife, and she slid it through the seam.

“Perfect,” Carlyn exclaimed.

“You're still not working on my wallpaper,” Krosky yelled from the booth.

Amid the laughter from the restoration guests and smiles from the others, Meri lifted off the top of the box.

“Wow. This is great,” she said, and pulled out a cookbook, followed by a crock pot.

“That way if you get involved in your work, dinner won't burn.”

“Thank you, Trish. You know me so well.”

“Look on the bottom.”

Meri peered into the bottom of the box. Found another envelope. She looked inside. “A gift certificate to Chez Pierre.”

“Just in case the crock pot loses the battle.”

The next gift was a basket covered in cellophane. Meri opened it to reveal bath gels, loofas, oils, and bubbles as well as the softest towel she had ever felt. She held up the accompanying card. “To de-­stress after a long day at work.”

“I think she'll have other ways for de-­stressing,” one of the women said, and they all laughed.

“This is from Carlyn and Nora,” Meri said as she read the next card, and was shocked to find her eyes getting teary. She opened the leather book.
Our Life.
It began with photos from years before. Alden as a boy sitting on the couch surrounded by pillows and holding a baby. Her. Another taken a ­couple of years later. He was sitting on the beach trying to read, while she tried to take his book away.

Another package appeared between her and the book.

“Don't look at every pic,” Carlyn said. “We'll be here all night.”

“Thank you, guys,” Meri said. “It's beautiful.” She smiled at Nora, who was sitting between Gran and Lizzie Blanchard, who had restored the stained glass in Gilbert House and had take Nora under her wing and taught her the rudiments of glasswork.

“Okay,” Carlyn said. “I've been told this is a bit naughty. From our wild and crazy interns. Close your eyes, Gran.”

Gran closed her eyes and then opened one. Which made her expression take on a roguish wink.

“Nora . . .” Carlyn hesitated. “You can watch but don't tell Gran or your dad.”

Nora looked eager.

“Joe, you stay right where you are. This is girls only.”

Krosky made a rude sound with the music source.

Meri slowly pulled off the red ribbon tied around the flat box. Gingerly opened the tissue paper. Looked up. Everyone leaned toward her. She held up a red thong barely large enough to cover a quarter. Whistles and hand fanning followed.

Meri shook her head. As if she couldn't believe it. They'd be surprised to know that Alden wasn't always the serious, formal man they knew. He was a man who could appreciate a red thong.

“There's more.”

Beneath, there was a beautiful satin teddy set.

“Something classy, something trashy,” Carlyn said. “Now she's got all the bases covered.”

“I think they're both very pretty,” Gran said.